Telephone index



Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,202.

F. w. COLBY.

TELEPHONE INDEX. ORIGINAL FILED JULYZB. 1917.

F1 ...2. Fig.5. 3 12 20 as I --a a1 g as 'Invemor. Frederick W. Colby. bMJWMMW Patented Feb. 13, teas.

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TELEPHONE INDEX.

Application filed July 28, 1917, Serial No. 183,270. Renewed January 10, 1923.

Toc'ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Fnnonuion lV. Conny, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk. the State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Telephone Indexes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing; representing like parts.

This invent-ion relates to, and has for its object improvements in telephone indexes of the type set forth in Patent No. 1,171,838 granted February 15, 1916, No. 1,234,537 grantedJuly 31, 1917, No. 1,236,268 granted August 7, 1917 and No. 1,266,214 granted May 1 1918 to the same inventor. These indexes are used to provide in accessible form a largenumber of telephonic addresses although, with slight modification, they may be adapted to a wide variety of uses, such are set forth in the patents above mentioned;

Other objects of this invention will more fully appear from the following description of the accompanying drawings and will be set forth in the annexed claims.

The drawings disc-lose an illustrative embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is adapted for use with the usual type of telephone instrument, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, and various changes may be made within its reasonable scope.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side. elevation or" ii'tGlGPllOIM-Z instrument showing the improved index ap- 1 plied thereto:

Fig. 2 is a partial section through the device: Fig. 3 is a section ot the line 3'-3 of Fig. 2, the cover, ring and disk beingremoved. Fig. 4 is aperspective View ot'the novel locking members ofthe ribbed spool;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the union otthe spring and its complementary member.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to "the sectional portion of Figure 2, of amodified form of post;

Fig. f7 is an enlarged detail sectional View showing 'thecasing and cap. in closed posit on. f

This improved device is shown as attached to the conventional telephone instrument inchiding a base 1 and standard 2, and, while this type is shown, it is obvious that it may readily be secured to'and used with other forms. It is demountablyclamped to the standard 2-by means of a suitable double clamp 3 which at one end embraces the standard and, at its other end, this novel device. The improved device primarily con-- sists of a casing t preterably formed of a liglit sheet metal entailing, from a practical standpoint, the advantages both ot' great durability and lightness of weight. This casinghas a longitudinal. slot 5 which extends the length of the casing: Within this slot 5 is passed an indicia-bearinp; member which is preferably apiece of sheet material, such as paper, or a fabric, one end of which is secured to a member rotatably mounted within the casing 41-. .This rotatable mem-i.

her, which is termeda spool '6, preferably similarly formed of a light sheet. metal material. This construction permits the inexpensive andrelatively simple production of these parts by a stamping process. Theindicia-bearing member in this embodiment consists of a strip 7 of paper.

The means of attachment of the strip 7 to the spool ,6 is an improved term of that shown in Patent No. 1,266,214 above mentioned. The spool is provided with a-longritudinal rib 8 which is preferably formed by inwardlybending a'longitudinal portionot' the spool. A complementary spool. member is provided co-operatively to function with the spool to retain the inner end of the indicia-bearing strip. This complementary member comprises a tube 9 havinga correspondingly formed complementary inwardly turned rib which outwardly presents a groove 10 to receive the spool rib 8. The tube 9 is of such diameter that itmay be removably'positioned within the spool 6. The spool has a longitudinal slot 11 while the tube 9 is'also provided with a of the tube and within the slot 11 in the spool. The section 13 of the strip which extends about the periphery of the tube is effectively clamped between the internesting rib and groove of the spool and tube. Preferably as shown in Fig. l, the rib 8 of the spool terminates adjacent the lower edge of the spool so that this lower edge portion preserves its normal circular curvature. in this improved structure a portion of the locking tube is cut away at its upper end leaving a space as at 14-. Atthe moment of assembling this space is opposite the terminusof the rib 8 of the spool as shown in Fig. This construction has proved advantageous in assisting the facile assembling of the device in that the lower edge of the strip 7 positioned on the tube may be inwardly pressed by the lower circular'edge of the spool and permit the spool edge to pass easily over the strip 7 and its rib 8 into engagement with the tube groove without wearin away or tending to damage the edge of the strip as a result of repeated similar assemblings. Furthermore, the terminaledge of the cut away portion of the tube functions as guide by which the strip may be properly positioned. The upper transverse edge of the strip is brought into alinement with the transversely extending edge of this tube portion and hence the strip is correctly alined for passage through the spool slot 11 and for subsequent winding about the spool. The lower end of the spool is closed by means of a cap, as in the said Patent No. 1,266,214t, which elfects a smooth running fit with the inside of the casing 4t.

his strip-retaining spool is preferably rotatably suspended so that the strip is normally retained wound about the spool, but may be withdrawn through the casing slot 5 by means of a handle 16 which is too large to enter the slot The upper end of this spool is provided with a cap 17 The cap snugly fits over the exterior of the spool end and is retentively held thereon. This cap 17 is also provided with an annular flange 18, the extreme diameter of which is slightly less than the in terior diameter of the casing 1 so that a smooth running guiding fit is effected at this end of the spool. The spool cap 17 is directly suspended from, and carried by, a post in the manner disclosed in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,266,214, so that the spool is not only suspended from the post, but also any torque set up in the post may constantly act upon the spool so that the strip is retained wound thereon. The post is preferably i the eccentric slot: 23 of the disk 2% carried in the spring chamber which is formed by the casing cap. The post is in turn suspended from this disk, and, because of the angular engagement of the slot 23 and the lap 22 of the stem 20, is rotatably carried thereby. As the portion of the post which passes through the disk is not in line with the axial center of the post, the slot 23 of the disk 2 is preferably cut off-center so that concentric rotation of the disk and post may be assured.

This post is rotatably mounted and held under adjustable tension within the spring chamber formed by the casing cap 25'. Spring tension means are positioned within this chamber to co-operate with the post and then to govern normally the spool movement. A. coiled spring 26 is preferably employed. one end being held in relatively fixed position while the other is secured to the rota table post of the spool as shown. As disclosed in this preferred embodiment the spring 26 has a complementary spring member 28 secured thereto at the outer or fixed end as by a rivet 27. This complementary member is wider than the spring 26 so that a longitudinal portion may be seatediin the annular recess 29 formed in the interior of the cap 25 by turning the circular wall of the cap 25 upon itself. The member 28 tensionably bears throughout its width against the inner face of the cap 25 and thus is held in constant frictional engagement therewith against any rotation induced by the torque of the coiled spring 26 which has its end secured to this member 28. Not only is this annular recess 29 thus formed but there is also provided a reinforced flange by which the cap snlilgly fits the upper "end of the casing 4; and is held against the torque of the spring when wound up and yet may be manually turned to increase or decrease the effective spring tension acting upon the post. The other, or inner end of the coiled spring is preferably detachably secured to the post The inner end portion of the spring is passed between the stems 20 and 21 of the post and the temper is removed from the end portion which is bent about one of the stems as shown in Fig. 3. i I

The disk 24 made of relatively thin metal and is preferably given a smooth finish on its surfaces. Its under surface rests upon the upper edges of the convolutions of the coiled spring 26 by which it is held in substantially horizontal position in the upright casing. Further, the disk is of such. diameter that it has a smooth guiding fit in the spring chamber and, due to the relative sizes, union the movable coiled spring and the base of the cap 25 is reduced. Th'isd'isk 38' is-centrally apertured to permit the unrestricted movement therein of the stems of the suspended spool post.

It is in this spring chamber section of the device that exist the major portion of the improvements of this novel structure over "former devices. i

It has been found that, in turning over this annular cap wall to form the casingen 'agin fian 'e there is a. sli ht annular t? k, b b b bulge adjacent the bend and that this resulted in a relatively constricted annular surface at the lowerportion of the flange so that the upper end portion of the casing was not frictionally engaged by the annular face of this flange. Hence, theupper end of the casing has been provided with a plurality of outwardly extending projections annularly located just above that portion of thecasing end which normally engages thec'onstricted portion of the recess-forming flange of the cap. These annularly disposed projections 31 are preferably formedby punching out theend portion of the casing. These projections extend outwardly so that each engages a portion of the wider diametered annular surface of the inside of the cap flange. By. the employment of this construction, upon accidental disengagement or dislodgnient of the a-nnularly engaging frictional surfaces of the cap'and casing, the

- projections will engage the constricted an-' nular portion of the cap and function-tore tain the cap upon the casing. In this improved device, the complementary spring member 28 is made of sucha width and the coiled spring end is so secured thereto (see F1 5 and that the topedge of the member 28 does not contact with the post-supporting disk 24. This disk, as above stated,"

is movable as are also the convolutions of the spr1ng26', and hence to reduce friction,

it is preferable to retain the relatively fixed; complementary member 28 out of contact 'witlrthe disk 24.

A further improvement consists in the-pro vision of a plurality of-projections 32 on the outer convolution of the coiled spring. These projections effectually prevent the coiled spring, adjacent its riveted union to the-member 28, from'approachin'g so closely to the member .28'that a=portion might tend.

tween the rotatable disk 24 and the fixedcover 34. I

In the form shown in Fig. 6 there has been disclose'da novel post construction. In this type the post can. be formed of two separate pieces of metal which are rectangular in shape. An appreciable waste of materiat in the production of these devices on a very large scale, is obviated by avoiding the stamping outo'f the irregularly 'shaped' 's'irrgle piece, post. Both the shorter stem '35 and thelonger stem 36 of this post are sub stantially oblong. The shorter stem 35' is bent toform an arm 37 which is preferably secured permanently to the inner faceo'fth'e spool cap 17. The longer stem 36 not only has an-arm 39 similarly secured to the spool carp but also bears at its upper end a lap 22 which is'adapted .to be' passed through the angularly shaped aperture 23' in the disk E24. The spool is thus suspended from the post and the post in turn is demountably sezcured' to'the disk Q las the disk maybe slipped off the lap 22. Thepost end of the coiledspring 26' is secured to the post as in the "structure shown in Figs. Band 3. With the type of two-part post disclosed in Fig-6', the ap'en ture' in the spool cap 17 maybe of any simple form such as to' permit the'pa'ssage of the post therethroug'h. It is '0bvi'ous,how ever, that the two-part post need "not be passed through the spool cap 17 but may simply have the lower ends of .itstwo stems fixedly secured to the upper face of ca'phr". These two stems are secured to'the cap 1 7 only a distance'apart sufficient to gpermitthe introduction and detention? of the bent end of the spring 26 therebetween;

By the use of .these improvements :additional'smoothness ofopefation has been secured, construction costs lessened, friction reduced and durability of the'structure increased. 1

It is to be understood-lthat the construe t-ion disclosed herein is illustrative but notrestric'tive and that the =sa1nefniay =be*mod fiecbwithinthemeaning and scope'of the claims which follow.-

. Having thus described invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let. ters Patent is: I

L In a device of the class described, "a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal slot, a' member rotatablyv secured inwsaid casing-1 a cap 'fOr-sai 'dwasing; a coiled cylindrical casing having a longitudinal slot, a member rotatably secured in said casing, a cap for said casing, said cap having an annular recess, a coiled spring having one end secured to said rotatable memher, a complementary spring member secured to the other end of said coiled sprin said complementary member being ,i'rictionally retained in said annular recess, a plurality of projections on the coiled spring adjacent the complementary member to preventthe coiled spring from entering the annular recess, and a flexible indicia-bearing means "secured to said rotatable member and adapted to be drawn out through the cas- .ing slot against the tension of the spring and thereby returned when released.

3. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal slot, a member rotatably secured in said casing, a cap for-said casing, said cap having an annular recess, a coiled spring having one end of the spring secured to the rotatable member, a disk rotatably carried on the upper edges of the convolutions of said spring and carrying said rotatable member,

a complementary spring member secured to the other end of said coiled spring, said complementary member being frictionally retained in said annular recess, said complementary member and the coiled spring being so secured together that the rotatable disk may'not contact with the complementary member, and a flexible indicia-bearing means secured to said rotatable member and adapted to be drawn out through the easing slot against the tension of the spring and thereby returned when released.

a. Ina device of the class described, a cylindrical casing, a flexible strip, a rota'table member adapted to have the strip normally wound thereabout, a supporting member rotatably mounted in said casing, a

post stem having its upper end demountably engaging saidsupporting member and its lower end secured to said rotatable strip member, a complementary post stem secured to the rotatable strip member and extendingadjacent and substantially parallel to said first-mentioned post stem, a spring having one end secured to the casing and the other end'bent to be engaged and held between said post stems whereby the rotatable strip member is held under spring tension.

5. In a device of theclass described, cylindrical casing having alongitudinal slot, a spring-controlled cylindrical spool longitudinally slotted and rotatable in said casing, a flexible strip to extend through the casing slot and be normally wound about the spool, a longitudinally slotted tubular member to fit within said spool, said tubular member being cut, away to facilitate the clamping of the strip between said internesting members.

6. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal slot, a springcontrolled cylindrical spool longitudinally slotted and rotatable in said casing, a flexible strip to extend through the casing slot and be normally wound about the spool, a longitudinally slotted tubular member to fit within said spool, said tubular member having a longitudinal groove adjacent its slot, an inwardly projecting rib on said spool to be received in internesting engagement with said groove, the slots in said spool and tubular member being on opposite sides of said rib and groove engagement so that the inner end of the strip may extend through the spool and between the internesting portions of the spool and tubular member and through the latter, and a guide on said tubular member whereby the strip may be transversely alined.

7. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a longitudinallyslotted casing and a cap therefor, an annular flange on said cap to engage the end portion of the casing, the flange having'a lower constricted annular portion, and a plurality of projections adjacent the upper end of the casing to provide surfaces ii'rictionally to engage the interior face of the annular flange and to cause the cap to be retained on the easing end.

8. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal slot, a member. rotatably secured in said casing, a cap for said casing, a coiled spring in sald cap having one end secured thereto and the other to said rotatable member whereby the latter is held under spring tension, a flexible member secured to the to tatahle member and normally retained wound thereabout and adapted to be drawn through the casing slot, an annular flange on said cap having a lower constricted annular portion frictionally to engage the end portion of the casing and a plurality of projections on the upper end of said casing frictionally to engage the flange of the cap whereby increased frictional surface engagement between the cap and casing is afforded 10 and whereby, upon accidental disengagemerit, of said surfaces, said constricted flange portion will engage said projections and retain the cap on the casing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 named to this specification.

FREDERICK W. COLBY. 

